Alienware X15 and X17, the new gaming notebooks with Intel Core 11 gen and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080

Alienware X15 and X17

Dell presented Alienware X15 and Alienware X17, the new gaming notebooks with an elegant design and extraordinary power: they are equipped with 11th generation Intel Core processors and can mount video cards up to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080.

In both cases, these are particularly thin devices, with a thickness of just 15.9 mm for the model with a 15.6-inch display and 20.9 mm for the model with a 17.3-inch display.

Gaming displays

Alienware X15 Alienware X15 and X17 focus on particularly sophisticated and performing solutions as regards the screen. In the first case we have a panel ranging from Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080 pixels) to QHD (2560 x 1440 pixels), with refresh rates from 165, 240 or 360 Hz.

Moving instead to the X17 , we have a panel with resolution from Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) to Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels), with refresh rates from 120, 165 or 360 Hz. The brightness ranges from 300 to 500 nits, with different specifications for as regards color coverage and support for NVIDIA G-SYNC technology.

Hardware configuration

Alienware X15 Under the Alienware X15 and X17 shell we find, as mentioned, the Intel Core processors of the eleventh generation, in this case Intel Core i7 11800H, Intel Core i9 11900H or Intel Core i9 11900HK. The graphics sector is instead entrusted to the NVIDIA GeForce 3000 series GPUs: RTX 3060, RTX 3070 or RTX 3080.

The DDR4-3200 RAM memory can reach 32 GB in the case of the 15-inch model or 64 GB in the case of the 17-inch model, while the storage consists of NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD solutions from 256 GB to 2 TB, which can be doubled with RAID 0 configurations. The battery that powers both notebooks is 87 Wh.

Both notebooks are also equipped with a 720p resolution webcam and Windows Hello support and the classic X-Series keyboard with single-key RGB lighting, anti-ghosting and 1.5mm key travel. On the X17 it is possible to access a further optional keyboard with Cherry MX low profile mechanical switches with an increased stroke of 1.8mm. Furthermore, in case you decide to equip your computer with an RTX 3080, an illuminated trackpad is installed which can be configured with the specific Alienware software.

Both laptops are available exclusively in "Lunar Light" color. ": the external chassis is white while the inside of the computer is black.

As reported by The Verge, finally, the new X15 and X17 have lost the specific port for the connection with the Alienware Graphics Amplifier. The reason is very simple: the additional performance in using an external graphics card through a Thunderbolt connection is particularly limited, as the new notebooks natively support configurations with RTX 3000 GPUs. Alienware is therefore convinced that the purchase of the external module is no longer justified and preferred to focus on greater heat dissipation efficiency and adding extra I / O ports.

Cooling system

Alienware X15 How Are Alienware's New Gaming Laptops Handling the Heat? Despite the reduced thickness, both devices are equipped with Alienware Cryo-Tech technology, based on a liquid metal system that is located between the processor and the other elements, and which manages to cool them very effectively.

Of course this is only one of the aspects that characterize the cooling system of the new Alienware. In fact, we also find the HyperEfficient Voltage Regulation which precisely controls the voltage during the most demanding sessions, the Alienware Quad Fan which blows the air inside the body and the Smart Fan for the management of each single fan through artificial intelligence.

Data sheet Alienware X15

Alienware X15

Display: 15.6 inch FHD 165 Hz, 3 ms, 300 nits, 100% sRGB; FHD 360 Hz, 1 ms, 300 nits, 100% sRGB, NVIDIA G-SYNC; QHD 240 Hz, 2 ms, 400 nits, 99% DCI-P3, G-SYNC Processor: Intel Core i7 11800H or Intel Core i9 11900H Video card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060, RTX 3070 or RTX 3080 Memory: 16 to 32 GB of RAM DDR4-3200 Storage: M.2 NVMe SSD up to 2 TB Audio: Dual speaker configuration Ports: 1 x USB-C 3.2, 1 x USB-C Thunderbolt 4, 1 x USB-A 3.2, HDMI 2.1, jack 3.5mm audio, microSD reader Connectivity: Killer Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 Battery: 87 Wh Dimensions: 15.9-16.3 x 277.3 x 359.7mm Weight: 2.27 to 2.36 Kg Release: June 15, 2021 (USA) Price: starting from $ 1,999.99

Alienware X17 datasheet

Alienware X17 on the left and X15 on the right

Display : 17.3 inch FHD 165Hz, 3ms, 300nits, 100% sRGB; FHD 360 Hz, 1 ms, 300 nits, 100% sRGB, NVIDIA G-SYNC; UHD 120 Hz, 4 ms, 500 nits, 100% Adobe, G-SYNC Processor: Intel Core i7 11800H or Intel Core i9 11900HK Video card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060, RTX 3070 or RTX 3080 Memory: 16 to 64 GB of RAM DDR4-3200 Storage: M.2 NVMe SSD up to 2 TB Audio: Dual speaker configuration Ports: 1 x USB-C 3.2, 1 x USB-C Thunderbolt 4, 2 x USB-A 3.2, HDMI 2.1, Mini DisplayPort 1.4 , 3.5mm audio jack, microSD reader Connectivity: Killer Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2 Battery: 87 Wh Dimensions: 20.9-21.4 x 299.49 x 399.23mm Weight: 3.02 to 3 , 2 Kg Release: June 15, 2021 (USA) Price: Starting at $ 2,099.99

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